Machine-readable tape

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments use a single, physical embodiment that compiles independent machine-readable codes together with little to no space in between codes. This physical embodiment is in two primary forms—adhesive tape or fabric strips with hook and loop backing. A code reader device, with software compatible with the machine-readable codes, can rapidly or simultaneously aggregate independent codes together on the physical embodiment in order to assign them to one or more digital addresses.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/883,061 entitled MACHINE-READABLE TAPE filed Aug. 5,2019 and also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/895,111 entitled MACHINE-READABLE TAPE filed Sep. 3, 2019, eachof which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with U.S. Government support under Agreement No.W15QKN-16-3-0001 awarded by the ACC-NJ. The Government has certainrights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to machine readable codes on adhesivetape and machine-readable codes on fabric strips with hook and loopbacking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many contexts in which an object needs to be tagged withdigital information such as for identifying the object and tracking thelocation of the object. Such tagging is often in the form of a unique,machine-readable code (e.g., bar code, QR code, etc.) that is placed onthe object and associated with digital information such that when thecode is scanned, the associated digital information can be retrieved,used, and updated. Barcodes and QR codes have proven very useful inindustry, most notably in inventory management systems, but also inother contexts

For purposes of this patent application, machine readable code isdefined as a pattern that can be read and decoded optically by acompatible code reader device such as using a camera system or a lightsource and sensor mechanism. There are many different types ofmachine-readable codes, including but not limited to barcodes and QuickResponse (QR) codes. These codes can be printed and used on manydifferent types of physical and flexible form factors including paper,plastic, and any other flexible composite. FIG. 3 shows some commonexamples of how machine-readable codes are used, where FIG. 3(a) showsan example of a machine-readable code used on a paper sticker, FIG. 3(b)shows an example of a machine-readable code printed on carboard, andFIG. 3(c) shows an example of a machine-readable code printed onplastic. Barcode is commonly used to track items that move through thesupply chain. QR code is commonly used to provide a rapid short cut to awebsite. Both machine readable codes can be printed on flexiblecomposite material such as paper, cardboard, plastic and fabrics.

Machine readable code can be used in many different ways, including butnot limited to tracking inventory and supply, or providing users rapidaccess to a webpage. Generally speaking, when machine readable code isused in these examples, the same exact code (i.e., pattern) is used formultiple locations or objects. For instance, with inventory and supplytracking, all items that fall under a specific stock keeping unit (SKU)will use the same code. When using machine readable code for quickaccess to webpages, the same code is employed to bring users to asingle, common webpage.

There are circumstances, however, when users need more access to uniquecodes—codes that have a distinct pattern that is different from othercodes. An example of this circumstance is a user tracking assets orlocations that require unique digital content associated with that assetor location. For example, a construction supervisor may have a veryspecific set of instructions associated with a one particular room. Theconstruction supervisor could use a machine-readable code to link thisinstruction to the specific room in question. This can often be doneusing a machine-readable code with an adhesive backing that can attachto a surface in the room. The supervisor links the digital instruction,contained in the cloud or local database, to the machine-readable code(i.e., pattern) on the adhesive sticker. A second construction workercan use a code reader device to scan this code, which then links thedevice to the specific digital address containing the instruction. Inorder for this process to work, the construction supervisor needs aunique machine-readable code for that room alone, because otherwise thisinstruction could get erroneously applied elsewhere if the same repeatedcode is applied to other rooms.

Another example for needing unique machine-readable codes is trackingpersonal belongings. A unique machine-readable code may be useful whenthe information tied to a physical object is distinct to that object.For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a user has containers that mightcontain different contents, and therefore the user would want to assignand track distinct digital information attached to each respectivecontainer. Thus, in this example, each container requires a uniquemachine-readable code for tracking the contents of these containers. Theuser can assign a unique digital address to each of the containers usingmachine readable stickers with their own distinct and readable pattern,where the digital address might be associated with information such asthe contents and/or storage location of the container. When machinereadable codes are used in this context, the codes often come inpackaging that separates the codes into a set of 10 or more stickers,for example, as shown in FIG. 5.

In the context of machine-readable codes that can be used to trackassets or locations, such machine readable codes are often sold asflexible composites that can attach to surfaces using adhesives.Examples include, but are not limited to, a rolled liner containingindividual and unique machine-readable codes printed on stickers, andpackages of individually separated machine-readable codes also printedon stickers. These example form factors are shown in FIG. 5, where FIG.5(a) shows machine readable codes on adhesive stickers attached to arolled liner, where a user would have to peel off each sticker, attachit to a respective physical location, and upload digital content. FIG.5(b) shows machine readable codes on stickers that are physicallyseparated and packaged. Again, a user a user would have to peel off eachsticker, attach it to a respective physical location, and upload digitalcontent.

In the examples illustrated in FIG. 5, as well as many others, the useof machine-readable codes in this way has certain limitations. Theselimitations hinder mass adoption of machine-readable codes used toorganize digital content associated with physical objects and locations.Some of these limitations are described in detail below.

Limited scale: These labels often come in rolls or packages thatseparate each physical label as seen in FIG. 5. For instance, a rollcould contain 50 labels separated and attached to a common liner, or apackage could contain 10 completely separated labels. In both cases,each unique code is physically separated from one another. Thisseparation is a constraint in two ways. It limits the amount of uniquecodes a customer can obtain per unit of product due to the magnitude ofseparation. It also significantly increases the price paid per uniquecode due to scaling limitations. This is especially the case when uniquecode comes in packages that separate each adhesive label. For instance,a package of 10 labels can cost $10, so every individual and unique codecosts a customer $1 each.

Lack of convenience and physical ruggedness: An added constraint tothese adhesive labels in their current physical form is convenience for‘on the fly’ and/or rugged use. For instance, an unpackaged rolled linerof individual stickers would likely unfurl inside a tool kit or apocket, causing the roll to take up more space and the physicalintegrity of each sticker to be weakened. FIG. 6 demonstrates how arolled liner can unfurl, causing individual stickers to be subject todamage under non-ideal circumstances such as when housed inside atoolkit. The package of individual stickers such as shown in FIG. 5(b),though maintaining integrity inside the package, would take up too muchroom to be realistically put in a toolkit or a pocket. When both typesof labels are unpackaged for quick access and exposed to roughconditions, such as in a toolkit or a pocket, they can wrinkle, bend ortear unless properly handled with care. This type of damage can make thecodes unreadable by a code reader device, and therefore both formfactors cannot function reliably as intended when it comes to morerugged conditions. This is one of many reasons why machine-readablelabels face adoption resistance in spaces such as front-lineconstruction work.

Constrained to a one to one interaction: A user can only interact withone code at a time. A user cannot successfully scan and interact withmultiple codes (i.e., multiple pattern segments) simultaneously using amachine-readable device such as a smartphone or barcode scanner. This isboth a physical and a software-based constraint. The physical constraintis because the unique codes are, from the onset, physically separatedsuch that a machine-readable device would have difficulty observingmultiple codes simultaneously within the parameters of its scanningarea. The software constraint is to because existing code reader devicestypically are programmed to search for one code at a time. This means ifa user wants to assign the same digital content to multiplemachine-readable codes, they must scan one code at a time to do so.

Lack of digital ruggedness and reliability: Key elements of the entiremachine-readable code, in its current form, must be observable and infocus by the code reader device in order for it to be successfullyscanned. In other words, if key elements of the code are damaged orpartially obscured, the user cannot interact with digital contentassigned to that machine-readable code, for example, as depicted in FIG.7. For instance, many QR codes require the finder patterns on the threedifferent corners to be observable and in focus for the QR code to besuccessfully scanned. FIG. 7(a) is an illustration showing these finderpatterns on a standard QR code. If any of these finder patterns areunobservable or damaged, the code reader machine will not be able toscan the code successfully, and the user will not be able to interactwith digital content assigned to that specific code. This would also bethe case if vertical lines that make up a single barcode are damaged ormissing, which in turn makes the barcode unreadable. FIG. 7(b) is aphotograph showing undamaged bar and QR codes. Both codes can besuccessfully scanned by a machine-readable device in this image. FIG.7(c) shows simulated damage to both codes such that the codes cannot beproperly scanned by the machine-readable device. The two obscured areasin FIG. 7(c) render both codes completely unreadable by a device, e.g.,a missing finder pattern, in this case the top right corner beingcovered up, renders the QR code unreadable, while a missing bar code, inthis case a rectangle covering the entire ‘6’ part of the barcode,renders it unreadable. This limitation can make many currentmachine-readable codes on the market unreliable when circumstancesprevent a code from being completely observable by a code reader device.

Lack of versatility: Another limitation to machine readable codescurrently on the market is the lack of versatility when it comes tocreating a code's size or shape in real time. Currently, when a user hasa machine-readable label such as a QR or barcode, that label is fixed inone or both of its x-y dimensions. It can only function as intended inits original size. Furthermore, the code cannot be spliced and functionas two independent and functional codes. In other words, the user cannotcut through a code physically in real time and, for instance, createseveral independent codes out of the previous, larger code. Not only isit impossible to create independent codes by breaking the code intosmaller pieces, but once broken, the code is completely unusable unlessthe user physically reunites the pieces together with great care. Thislack of flexibility means a user cannot, for instance, rip a piece of QRcode or barcode to different shapes or sizes in real-time, somethingthat might be necessary if the code is used in different ways. Forexample, a user might want a small code to stick onto an individual toolfor tracking, but a larger code to track a large container. FIG. 8schematically shows instances in which a barcode or QR code would bereadable and instances when they would not be readable if torn or cut.Neither of these codes can be spliced and still function as intended. Inother words, both codes are intended to be used as one complete codeonly. If either of these codes is torn or split apart, the code nolonger functions as intended.

SUMMARY OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention uniquely combine themachine-readability of a code with the versatility of adhesive orhook-and-loop tape, specifically by producing tape with a pattern thatcan be divided into multiple, variable-length segments (e.g., by tearingoff sections of the tape at arbitrary locations as is generally donewhen using a roll of tape), with each segment including one or moreunique codes that can be scanned/identified and associated with digitalinformation. Such “digital tape” can be used with an associated software“app” for accessing and storing digital information relating to anobject to which a segment of the tape is affixed. Unlikeindividually-coded labels, tape is more easily accessible, rugged, anddurable, will stick to almost anything it is attached to, and isvariable in length (e.g., can be sold in different length rolls and canbe torn into different length sections). Among other things, thisunique, variable length capability allows the entire code to wrap aroundobjects, making it viewable from different angles. For example, a boxwith a length of this tape wrapped around its circumference will be ableto be read from any side of the box.

Embodiments can be implemented using virtually any type of tape. Ducttape is considered a good candidate for implementation due to itsruggedness, versatility, and existing market penetration, although theinventors envision implementation using virtually any type of tape,e.g., masking tape, gaffer tape, vinyl tape, packaging tape, strappingtape, water activated tape, pressure sensitive tape, etc. Generallyspeaking, tape can be characterized as a 3-dimensional rectangularobject with a high aspect ratio, i.e., its x:y dimension aspect ratio isvery high and its y:z dimension aspect ratio is also very high such thatx>>y>>z. For example, the x (length) dimension is typically specified inyards, the y (width) dimension is typically specified in inches, and thez (thickness) dimension is typically specified in “mil”s. Tape typicallyhas an adhesive layer, which generally means that at least one of itsx-y surfaces is sticky and adheres to certain types of surfaces, forexample glass, plastic, wood, metal, etc. Some tapes are double-sided,e.g., having two sticky x-y surfaces. Tape is generally provided on aroll (e.g., the tape is wound around itself, typically on a hollowcylindrical core), although the present invention is not limited torolled tape.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also include relatedapparatus for scanning and processing such segments and for associatinginformation with such segments. For example, certain exemplaryembodiments provide a cloud-based software solution and related “app”that allows users to take any length of tape and assign that entiresegment to point to a unique digital address where they can storeinformation, e.g., using the “app” on a smartphone or tablet to scan thecode and storing associated information in the cloud.

Thus, exemplary embodiments capture many benefits of prior approachesinto a single product. These collective benefits include: expeditioususe without any additional steps or printing equipment, smartphonesoftware readily integrated with the machine-readable code, strongadhesive backing for highly flexible application to many surfaces, builtin ruggedness and water resistance, and the ability to customize thesize and length of a single code.

Some aspects and advantages of various exemplary embodiments are nowdescribed.

Generally speaking, the described solution differs from prior approachesby using specialty tape as the physical medium to employ themachine-readable code. In addition to this, the physical product isintegrated with smartphone software or other “app” to assist in datamanagement. Among other things, this tape medium allows full use of thecode in an expeditious manner (e.g., for a customer on the move), andremoves the required steps of downloading, printing, applying adhesive,and creating an accompanying digital address to obtain the full value ofthe product. Also, this tape medium allows several hundreds of uniquecodes to be self-contained in one unit of product (e.g., a roll oftape). This helps provide more life and user flexibility per unit ofproduct and considerably brings down the cost per unique code.

Furthermore, the strong adhesive or hook-and-loop backing to the codeallows it to be reliably attached to many different surfaces, making itmore versatile than a traditional label. Also, the uniquemachine-readable pattern on the tape allows one single code to becustomized to any length along the tape, and, in certain embodiments,can be cut or torn down to very small sizes (e.g., 2 cm by 2 cm),opening up many more possibilities as to how it can be employed.Generally speaking, the minimum length containing 1 unique code is adesign parameter that can be adjusted or selected for a givenapplication. Thus, for a specific embodiment, there generally is aspecific minimum length that contains an entire, unique code.

Certain exemplary embodiments include a tape that has a varying patternalong the length such that any unit length of the tape greater than thelength of 1 unique code comprises a unique pattern, and this pattern ismachine-detectable from at least one side of the tape. In certainexemplary embodiments, the tape is comprised of discrete “cells” (e.g.,rectangular or square cells), with each cell containing a pattern thatis unique from every other cell in the tape (although not necessarilyuniversally unique). The uniqueness of each cell allows for it to bemachine-readable, e.g., using a camera with image processing softwaresuch as the above-mentioned app running on a smartphone or table. Suchcells may (but are not required to) span the width (y-dimension) of thetape, and many adjacent cells generally line the entire length(x-dimension) of the tape. Adjacent cells can be arranged with little orno space between successive cells or can be arranged with gaps betweensuccessive cells, e.g., with a demarcation (e.g., a solid color strip orother indication) to allow for visually identifying the start/end of acell and to provide room for a user to tear or cut the tape betweencells). The present invention is not limited to any particulararrangement or spacing of codes or cells on a length of tape.

As mentioned above, certain exemplary embodiments provide a cloud-basedsolution accessible to the user through a downloadable smartphoneapplication (e.g., Android and iOS App). The software allows the user tointeract with the article digitally. The software, for example, throughthe smartphone's camera, is designed to ‘read’ the unique pattern withineach cell and recognize it as having a unique identity (a ‘code’). Thisunique identity points to a unique digital address on the cloud databaseand provides the ability to associate any type of digital informationwith the machine-readable code, and hence with the object, includingsuch things as product information (e.g., product description, pricing,etc.), inventory/tracking information (e.g., object location),documents, images, videos, audio files, etc. In this way, a user with asmartphone or tablet and the app is able to read a cell's code on thetape and access information assigned to that code.

Unlike a barcode or QR code, however, exemplary embodiments allow theuser to associate multiple adjacent codes on the tape to the sameinformation. For example, a user can assign four adjacent codes to holdthe same information. If any one of these four codes is now scanned, itwill point to that information. This unique capability allows forvariable length ‘macro’-codes. For example, a user can cut a section oftape that contains 10 codes and assign them all to point to the sameinformation. When a user then ‘reads’ that section of tape, it acts asone macro-code that points to the defined information. Additionally, inan exemplary embodiment, the user is able to edit information assignedto macro-codes via the app or other user interface (e.g., someinformation may be updated through a back-end administrative interfacesuch that an administrator can control the content provided to users whoscan a given portion of tape).

Without limitation, the following are some ways in which a macro-codecan be recorded such as for use by the cloud-based system. If, forexample, the tape has a non-repeating pattern, then a segment of thetape (e.g., torn from a tape roll) can be scanned (e.g., using thesmartphone camera) to record the entire pattern on that segment or evenjust a portion of the pattern on that segment, and then digitalinformation can be associated with the recorded pattern. If, forexample, the tape has a sequence of codes, then all of the codes on asegment of the tape (e.g., torn from a tape roll) could be determined,for example, by scanning the entire segment (in which case all of theindividual codes could be read), by receiving a scan of just the firstand last codes from the segment (in which case the entire sequence ofcodes on the segment between the first and last codes, inclusive, couldbe determined), or by receiving a scan of the first code and anindication of the number of codes on the segment (in which case, again,the entire sequence of codes on the segment could be determined).Generally speaking (and perhaps typically), the segment or segmentportion could be scanned after the tape is applied to the object (e.g.,if the object is a box with a length of this tape wrapped around itscircumference, then all sides of the box could be scanned to record theentire pattern), although, for example, the first code of a segmentcould be scanned while the start of the tape segment is still on theroll and the last segment could be scanned either while the end of thetape segment is still on the roll or after it is applied to the object.Overall, the present invention is not limited to any particular way ofrecording a code or macro-code associated with a segment of tape.

The user can apply a length of tape encompassing one or more codes/cellsto an object. Preferably, the user will tear or cut the tape at adesignated location such as one of the demarcation lines shown in FIG.32 and FIG. 39, but in the event the user happens to tear or cut awayfrom a designated location such that one or more cells are damaged(e.g., torn into two sections or distorted due to stretching), then theaffected cell(s) may be unscannable/unusable but the remainingcode(s)/cell(s) on a length of tape still may be scannable/usable.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an encoded tapecomprises at least one fastener material on at least one surface of thetape and a non-repetitive varying pattern on at least one surface of thetape, the non-repetitive varying pattern encoding a plurality ofdifferent machine-readable codes, wherein the tape is separable into aplurality of arbitrary length segments including distinct sets ofmachine-readable codes that uniquely identify each such segment fromother such segments of the tape.

In various alternative embodiments, the pattern may be printed on avisible surface of the tape and/or may be machine-detectable from atleast one side of the tape. The pattern on the tape embodying themachine-readable codes may be of any form described herein. Thenon-repetitive varying pattern may include a plurality of unique codesarranged successively along a longitudinal portion of the tape in bothlength and width. The unique codes may encompass substantially equallengths of the tape, for example, the pattern may comprise adjacentcells of length and width equal to the width of the tape, each cellincluding at least one machine-readable code. The pattern may compriseparallel and orthogonal lines, which may cover substantially the entirelength and width of the tape. The unique codes may be arranged withlittle to no space between adjacent codes or may be arranged with a gapbetween adjacent codes. The pattern may include demarcations identifyinglocations of the machine-readable codes on the tape. The pattern on thetape may not be visually discernible by a human as including thepresence of machine-readable codes, for example, because the patterndoes not look like a code or because the pattern on the tape is outsideof the visual spectrum such that the presence of machine-readable codeson the tape is not visually discernible by a human.

In any of the described embodiments, the at least one fastener materialmay include an adhesive (e.g., a pressure sensitive material, anadhesive that does not leave residue on at least one selective surfaceto be taped, a water activated adhesive, etc.), hook and loop fasteners,or other appropriate fastener materials. The tape may be provided inrolled form.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an imageprocessing system comprises an image scanner configured to provide atleast one scanned image of at least a portion of an arbitrary lengthsegment of the tape of claim 1 and an image processor configured toreceive the at least one scanned image, identify the distinct set ofmachine-readable codes on the arbitrary length segment of the tape basedon the at least one scanned image, associate the distinct set ofmachine-readable codes with a common set of digital addresses,subsequently receive an input identifying any one or more of thedistinct set of machine-readable codes associated with the arbitrarylength segment of the tape, and, in response to receiving the input,providing user access to at least one member of the common set ofdigital addresses via a user interface of a user device.

In various alternative embodiments, the image processor may be furtherconfigured to receive and store information for a given one of thecommon set of digital address prior to receiving the input, such thataccess to the stored information is provided in response to the input.The input may comprise a photographic or videographic scan of at least aportion of the arbitrary section of tape. The at least one scanned imagemay include images scanned at a first location and at a second locationof the arbitrary section of the tape, in which case the image processormay be further configured to identify a first machine-readable code atthe first location, identify a second machine-readable code at thesecond location, and infer at least one additional machine-readable codebetween the first and second machine-readable codes.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a methodcomprises receiving at least one scanned image of at least a portion ofan arbitrary length segment of the tape of claim 1; identifying thedistinct set of machine-readable codes on the arbitrary length segmentof the tape based on the at least one scanned image; associating thedistinct set of machine-readable codes with a common set of digitaladdresses; subsequently receiving an input identifying any one or moreof the distinct set of machine-readable codes associated with thearbitrary length segment of the tape; and in response to receiving theinput, providing user access to at least one member of the common set ofdigital addresses via a user interface of a user device.

In various alternative embodiments, the method may further comprise,prior to receiving the input, receiving and storing information for agiven one of the common set of digital addresses, such that access tothe stored information is provided in response to the input. The inputmay comprise a photographic or videographic scan of at least a portionof the arbitrary section of tape. Scanning at least a portion of thearbitrary section of the tape may comprise scanning the arbitrarysection of tape at a first location and at a second location, in whichcase identifying the distinct set of machine-readable codes on thearbitrary section of the tape may comprise identifying a firstmachine-readable code at the first location, identifying a secondmachine-readable code at the second location, and inferring at least oneadditional machine-readable code between the first and secondmachine-readable codes.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an encoded tapecomprises at least one fastener material on at least one surface of thetape and also comprises repeated, identical, machine-readable codesalong a longitudinal portion of at least one surface of the tape,wherein the tape is separable into a plurality of arbitrary lengthsegments, each arbitrary length segment including at least one of therepeated, identical, machine-readable codes, such that different suchsegments are attachable to different objects to associate such objectswith a common set of digital addresses associated with themachine-readable codes.

In various alternative embodiments, the at least one fastener materialmay include an adhesive and/or hook fasteners and loop fasteners. Thepattern on the tape embodying the machine-readable codes may be of anyform described herein. The tape may be provided in rolled form. Imageprocessing systems and image processors of the types described hereincan be used with such tapes having repeated, identical, machine-readablecodes in a manner similar to those used for tapes having non-repetitivevarying patterns.

Additional embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Those skilled in the art should more fully appreciate advantages ofvarious embodiments of the invention from the following “Description ofIllustrative Embodiments,” discussed with reference to the drawingssummarized immediately below.

FIG. 1 shows a complete example of how Continuous Machine-Readable Codeon Tape (CMRCT) can be used to organize digital content according to thephysical world in which it resides, in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a similar system to FIG. 1, however instead of an adhesivetape, CMRCT uses a fabric strip with hook and look backing that cansecure to precise, physical locations and can tie/organize digitalcontent to the physical world in which it relates.

FIG. 3 shows some of the more common examples of how machine-readablecode is used as known in the art.

FIG. 4 shows a common use case for unique machine-readable codes.

FIG. 5 shows a common embodiment for unique machine-readable code.

FIG. 6 shows an example of how unique machine-readable codes, in theircurrent and unpackaged form, are not rugged and can become easilydamaged when subjected to non-ideal conditions such as being unpackagedand in a toolkit.

FIG. 7 shows examples of the code limitations with two of the mostcommon machine-readable codes—QR code and Barcode.

FIG. 8 shows another example of the code limitations with two of themost common machine-readable codes—QR code and Barcode.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a single code (i.e., pattern) and multiplecodes that have little to no spacing in between individual codes, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a photograph of an example embodiment of CMRCT.

FIG. 11 shows a roll of CMRCT as in FIG. 10 partially unfurled andshowing multiple codes physically attached with little to no spacing inbetween codes.

FIG. 12 uses the same photograph as FIG. 11, but uses transparent cellsto clearly indicate how individual codes could be arranged, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows different examples of what a digital address could looklike, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 shows actual screenshots of the aggregate effect in action usinga piece of CMRCT and a smart device with the compatible softwareapplication and using augmented reality to illustrate how the aggregateeffect works for the user, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of how unique codes could be organized on oneside of the CMRCT, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows a photograph of unique cells on CMRCT measuring 5×5 cm inarea, with each cell containing a unique code represented by anaugmented reality ‘+’ sign, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a photograph of an example embodiment of CMRCT in a toolpouch.

FIG. 18 shows a photograph of an example embodiment of a CMRCT fabricstrip in a toolkit.

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a ripped piece of CMRCT causing damage tosome codes.

FIG. 20 is an illustration of the ripped piece of CMRCT of FIG. 19highlighting the codes that remain readable and hence usable due to theaggregate effect.

FIG. 21 is an actual screenshot of three different aggregates on threedifferent pieces of CMRCT scanned by a machine-readable device with thecompatible software application.

FIG. 22 is an illustration that demonstrates how CMRCT is still able tofunction as intended even if a significant amount of aggregate isdamaged or unobservable.

FIG. 23 is an illustration that demonstrates how current uniquemachine-readable code in the form of QR code or barcode is unable tofunction as intended with a significant amount of damage orunobservability.

FIG. 24 is an actual screenshot of an aggregate piece of CMRCTfunctioning as intended even though a significant portion of the code isunobservable (or essentially damaged) as simulated by the white tape.

FIG. 25 is an illustration depicting how a piece of CMRCT can be splicedor torn into two separate entities and still function as intendedprovided each aggregate contains at least one complete code that in turncan be reprogrammed to two separate digital addresses by using thecompatible software application.

FIG. 26 is an actual screenshot of two spliced pieces of CMRCT and theirrespective aggregates functioning as intended and, in this example,assigned to two separate digital addresses as represented by theaugmented reality imagery over each piece.

FIG. 27 is an illustration of how CMRCT and the aggregate effect is notconstrained by what a machine-readable device with compatible softwarecan view in one single frame of reference but instead the aggregateeffect can occur over an unspecified amount of time and from differentpositions and angles of scanning, such that the machine-readable devicecan accumulate all the necessary codes that are intended to comprise theaggregate of CMRCT.

FIG. 28 shows an example of how several layers of code can overlap on asingle piece of CMRCT, and a machine-readable device can differentiatebetween either layer of codes using various methods such as code sizebrackets or color spectrums.

FIG. 29 is a visual depiction of how a machine-readable device withcompatible software can assign data, stored in the cloud or on a localserver, to a piece of CMRCT and subsequently each of the unique codescontained therein including an optional augmented reality userinterface.

FIG. 30 is a screenshot of the software application compatible withCMRCT scanning and reading a single digital address assigned to twopieces of tape forming an ‘X’ to demonstrate how the aggregate effectbehind CMRCT can provide a user added versatility as it relates to howthe tape is used.

FIG. 31 shows a roll of tape including successive cells with uniqueplaid codes, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 32 shows additional details of the exemplary tape of FIG. 1including demarcations between adjacent cells (coded sections) that maybe printed on the tape, e.g., in the form of designated cut linesbetween adjacent cells.

FIG. 33 shows a section of tape including portions of three adjacentcodes separated by demarcations and including anchor marks, inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 34 shows an example of a centering mark and border lines, inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 35 shows some exemplary user interface screens in accordance withone exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 36 shows a physically marked location on the tape, in accordancewith one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 37 consisting of partial views labeled as FIGS. 37A-37E acrossmultiple drawing sheets and intended to form a single complete viewshows a first example process flow and user interface screens forcapturing one or more codes and associating information with thecaptured code(s), in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 38 consisting of partial views labeled as FIGS. 38A-38D acrossmultiple drawing sheets and intended to form a single complete viewshows a second example process flow and user interface screens forcapturing one or more codes and associating information with thecaptured code(s), in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 39 shows some exemplary encoded custom patterns, in accordance withvarious exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 40 shows a branded tape, in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment.

It should be noted that the foregoing figures and the elements depictedtherein are not necessarily drawn to consistent scale or to any scale.Unless the context otherwise suggests, like elements are indicated bylike numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 1. Introduction

For purposes of this discussion and claims, a “set” is defined asincluding one or more members.

Existing machine-readable codes such as barcodes and QR codes have bothform factor and process constraints that prevent them from achievingfull adoption and everyday use across the consumer, commercial andindustry spaces. These constraints, and therefore lack of everydayadoption, significantly limit the productivity gains thatmachine-readable code could offer.

Exemplary embodiments, which, for convenience, are referred to herein asContinuous Machine-Readable Code on Tape (CMRCT) or, in some cases, as“digital tape,” are rooted in existing technologies such as QR code orbarcode but add subtle yet meaningful capabilities to improve upon threecore concepts; versatility, accessibility and reliability. By improvingupon these core concepts, CMRCT encourages everyday adoption, which inturn stimulates significant gains in productivity across ‘hands on’industries such as construction, oil and gas, or military logistics. Toachieve this, CMRCT alters both the physical form factor as well as theprocesses by which a machine-readable code is read by a compatibledevice such as a barcode reader, surveillance camera system, or smartdevice camera (referred to herein generically as a code reader device).These fundamental changes can be summarized as follows:

-   -   1. CMRCT uses a single, physical embodiment that compiles        independent machine-readable codes together with little to no        space in between codes. This physical embodiment is in two        primary forms—adhesive tape or fabric strips with hook and loop        backing.    -   2. CMRCT uses a process by which a code reader device, with        software compatible with the machine-readable codes, can rapidly        or simultaneously aggregate independent codes together on the        physical embodiment in order to assign them to one or more        digital addresses.

The changes in physical form factor as well as the aggregate processwill be described in more detail later, however the primary objective ofCMRCT is worth stating upfront to fully appreciate the usefulness ofthese changes. By making these changes, CMRCT enables machine readablecode to be rugged, reliable, and rapidly accessible in a tool kit, suchthat any user can rapidly attach digital content to physical locationsand share the content across a network, as easily as one can use asticky note. The digital content can include, but is not limited to,voice memos, photographs, images, spreadsheets, or videos.

CMRCT allows a user to organize and share digital content over anetwork, but also adds a physical dimension to this process. Generallyspeaking, digital content on computers such as desktop computers andsmart devices is organized using an operating system alone. To findinformation, a user must navigate this operating system to findinformation and, if this information relates to a physical object orlocation, a user must manually cross reference this information to therespective physical object or location.

CMRCT effectively removes this cross-reference process by physicallyattaching digital content to its respective physical counterpart, usingadhesive tape or fabric strips with hook and loop backing as thephysical medium to do this. By doing so, it allows a user to rapidlyassign, share or pull digital information from an exact physicallocation relevant to that digital content. In effect, CMRCT uses thephysical world as the primary means for organizing digital content. Thereal world becomes the new desktop and filing system.

FIG. 1 shows a set of photographs showing an example of one of theembodiments of CMRCT and how it can be used to assign digital content toa precise physical location relevant to such content. FIG. 1(a) shows anexample of CMRCT as a continuous machine-readable code on adhesive tape.In this example, duct tape is used, since it is physically tough andsticks to most surfaces reliably. FIG. 1(b) shows an example of themachine-readable code (i.e., pattern), using duct tape as a physicalmedium, attached and therefore assigned to a precise location such as awater pipe. FIG. 1(c) shows a code reader device with compatiblesoftware that is configured to scan and decode the unique code(s)assigned to the tape, and to retrieve a digital video from a cloud orlocal database. In this example, the digital video had previously beenassigned to this unique code on the tape. This video could, for example,describe how to install the very piping system it is attached to. FIG.1(d) shows that the user can tap on the augmented reality image hoveringover the tape to watch the video, or even access more digital contentrelating to the piping system, such as conversation threads,spreadsheets, or a piping schematic. A user can edit, delete, or sharethis information over a network, such that physical presence is notnecessarily required to engage with the content on the tape. In thisexample, instead of a user looking for a file on a computer aptly titled“water piping system’ and cross referencing it to the physical one, theuser takes a shortcut by scanning the code on the adhesive tape andthereby directly finding the water piping system in question and pullingthe relevant digital content associated with it.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing an alternative form factor for CMRCT,which happens to use the same process as the adhesive tape for assigningdigital content to machine readable codes. This form factor is a fabricstrip with hook and loop backing that enables it to wrap around objectsand secure itself through the hook and loop mechanism. FIG. 2(a) showsan example of CMRCT used on a fabric strip with a machine-readablepattern woven into the strip. The strip has a hook and loop backing suchthat one part of the hook section can attach to other loop sectionlocated on the same piece of fabric. FIG. 2(b) shows an example of aCMRCT fabric strip attached to a copper pipe. The hook and loopmechanism allows easy attachment to and removal from certain types ofphysical objects or locations. The process by which this embodiment isused to organize and share digital content over a network is similar tothe tape.

In industries that are highly physical in nature, such as commerciallogisitics or construction, organizing information in such a way as tominimize the time required to access relevant digital content (i.e.,minimize cross referencing time) vastly improves productivity. AMcKinsey Report, for instance, valued the current gap in globalconstruction productivity at $1.6 trillion.

4. Description of Continuous Machine-Readable Code on Tape (CMRCT)

CMRCT is a product (i.e., adhesive tape or fabric strip with hook andloop backing) that attaches individual and discrete codes together withlittle to no separation between adjacent codes, coupled with a processthat enables a code reader device to rapidly or simultaneously scan andaggregate multiple codes on an arbitrary segment of the physicalproduct, with the purpose of assigning one or more digital addresses toeach code rapidly or simultaneously. FIG. 9 shows in FIG. 9(a) anexample of a single code (i.e., unique pattern) and in FIG. 9(b) a groupof codes physically attached with little to no spacing in between codes,in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. In these examples, thecodes are in the form of plaid codes (discussed in greater detailbelow), although embodiments can use these or other types of machinereadable codes as discussed generally herein. FIG. 10 is a photographshowing an example CMRCT embodiment with unique machine readable codesof the types shown in FIG. 9 physically attached to one another andprinted on one side of an adhesive tape. In this exemplary embodiment,the individual cells containing a unique pattern are 2.5×2.5 cm, with 4of the same unique codes grouped into a cluster measuring 5×5 cm, suchthat one grouping of unique cells can be contained in a single 5 cmwidth of tape. Of note, the inventors intend on using different types ofunique machine-readable codes contained within a cell, along withdifferent combinations of the same unique codes grouped together,different cell sizes and different cell shapes. Such codes can beprinted on one or both sides of the tape. FIG. 11 is a photographshowing an example embodiment of the type shown in FIG. 10 partiallyunfurled. The exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 9-11 includes anarrangement of machine readable codes that are physically attached withlittle to no separation between the codes. FIG. 12 shows the photographof FIG. 11 annotated with transparent boxes showing the locations ofdiscrete machine readable codes that are physically attached with littleto no separation between each code. Codes that are physically attachedcan be different from one another, or in some cases, can be the same. Inthis example, each number represents a unique code (i.e., machinereadable pattern) such that the same number used multiple timesrepresents the same code, and different numbers represent differentcodes. CMRCT can use any type of arrangement for individual and uniquecodes, including repeating the same code more than once. FIG. 13 showsan exemplary of what a digital address can represent, where FIG. 13(a)shows an example of a single digital address assigned to a piece ofCMRCT in which the digital address is presented to the user as a set ofcolored augmented reality boxes and an upfront image with text, and FIG.13(b) shows another example of how the same digital address assigned toa piece of CMRCT can be presented differently, where, in this example,the digital address is presented to the user as a collection of digitalcontent including a spreadsheet, a text box, and a schematic, and allthree of these items fall under the same digital address. There is nolimit on the type(s) or amount of digital content that can be assignedto a single digital address. A digital address, as it relates to CMRCT,is defined as a collection of digital content grouped together on asingle address located on a database, where a digital address can beassociated with a single machine readable code or with multiple machinereadable codes. FIG. 14 shows examples of actual screenshots from ascanner device (in this case, a smartphone device), with softwarecompatible with CMRCT assigning one digital address to multiple codesthat are physically attached on an arbitrary piece of CMRCT, where FIG.14(a) shows an example with multiple codes physically attached to oneanother on an arbitrary piece of CMRCT with little to no spacing inbetween codes, FIG. 14(b) schematically shows a representation of a codereader device with software compatible with CMRCT identifying fourunique groupings of machine readable codes on the arbitrary piece ofCMRCT in FIG. 14(a) with augmented reality ‘+’ signs representing eachgroup of similar code (note, this type of augmented reality userinterface is an optional feature of CMRCT and the CMRCT process is notlimited to augmented reality interface—embodiments need not identify thedetected codes to the user), FIG. 14(c) schematically shows arepresentation of a code reader device, compatible with CMRCT,simultaneously or very rapidly aggregating the codes into one asrepresented by the four boxes, and FIG. 14(d) schematically shows arepresentation of a code reader device, compatible with CMRCT, assigninga single digital address (e.g., www.example.com) to the aggregatedcodes. In this exemplary embodiment, all unique codes on this arbitrarypiece of CMRCT are now assigned to www.example.com. Though augmentedreality is included in the user interface in this example, thisinterface is optional. Furthermore, different systems can be integratedwith CMRCT by those of ordinary skill in the art informed by the presentinvention, such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) and othervideo/surveillance systems with optical tracking sensors that are fullyautomated for high throughput tracking. This system would integratedigital information with CMRCT automatically, and without any directhuman involvement. In such systems, augmented reality generally wouldnot be a required part of the user interface.

Individual codes on an adhesive tape or fabric strip with hook and loopbacking can be arranged in any way, and can be an assortment of uniquecodes (e.g., a non-repetitive varying pattern, which in some cases caninclude some number of duplicated codes, such that the tape can beseparated into arbitrary length segments including distinct sets ofmachine-readable codes that uniquely identify each such segment fromother such segments of the tape) or repeated codes (e.g., one or morerolls of tape including repeated identical codes such as for usingarbitrary lengths of tape on multiple objects so that all of thoseobjects become associated with the same set of digital addresses). Forconvenience, the process whereby software groups individual codestogether and assigns a single digital address to them shall hereby bereferred to as the ‘aggregate effect.’ The aggregate effect can workwith one code by itself, but the novel aspect of CMRCT and the aggregateeffect is the ability to group more than one individual code and assignthem to a single digital address simultaneously or very rapidly. Ofnote, the aggregate effect is not limited to assigning a group of codesto just a single digital address. Embodiments of the invention canrapidly and simultaneously assign a group of codes to multiple differentdigital addresses as necessary.

Generally speaking, each aggregate of codes should be different from anyother aggregate used on the tape, such that a user attaches differentaggregates to different physical assets or locations. The easiest way tothink of an aggregate is a piece of tape. A piece of tape can hold asingle code, or an assortment of multiple codes, and together they makeup an aggregate that is different from any other aggregate on that tape.By ripping a piece of CMRCT, the user creates an aggregate unlike anyother on the tape, and this aggregate can function as one complete andunique code.

For example, with reference again to FIG. 12, a user might rip offarbitrary lengths of tape, where each separated portion contains adistinct group of codes (e.g., one portion might contain the codesections with codes 1/2/2/3 and another portion might contain the nextsuccessive sections with codes 3/4). In essence, each separated portionthen contains a unique aggregated code or codes that can be associatedwith a digital address. For example, a portion containing the codesections with codes 1/2/2/3 can be interpreted as a unique aggregatedcode 1/2/2/3 and/or as unique aggregated codes 1/2, 2/2, 2/3, 1/2/2,2/2/3, and 1/2/2/3. Each of these aggregated codes then can beassociated with a common digital address. The code reader device can beconfigured to read the codes on a portion of tape and decode theaggregated code(s) to access the associated digital address.

In the event that two arbitrary lengths of tape end up with ambiguouscode information (e.g., the same code ends up on two different portionsof tape such that a particular code on a newly scanned portion of tapeis already associated with a previously scanned portion of tape), thenthe system could notify the user that the newly scanned portion of tapeis unusable and a new length of tape needs to be removed and applied tothe object. This situation should be rare.

The aggregate effect can be used to enhance the capability of assigningmachine-readable codes to relevant physical assets or locations byadding versatility with how the physical form factor is used, andenhancing reliability should the aggregate code be obscured or damaged.This versatility and reliability are explained in more detail in thesection titled ‘Advantages of CMRCT’. For example, using the abovescenario, say that the portion containing the code sections includingcodes 1/2/2/3 is damaged such that the code 1 is unreadable. The codereader device still could decode the portion using the remainingreadable codes (e.g., 2/2, 2/3, or 2/2/3) and provide access to theassociated digital address.

Thus, the machine-readable codes of CMRCT can be physically and closelyattached to each other, and can be self-contained in a single productthat closely resembles a roll of adhesive tape. In other words, themultiple machine-readable codes can be tightly compacted onto one orboth physical surfaces of the tape, with at least one side of thissurface having an adhesive backing. The present invention is not limitedto any particular arrangement or spacing of codes on a length of tape. Asurface or surfaces that contain the machine-readable codes can be woundsuch that the entire length is compacted into a single roll, and theadhesive surface binds the roll so that it does not unfurl. Themachine-readable codes being physically attached and tightly compactedon one or more surfaces give the appearance of continuity for theaggregate of machine-readable codes.

The machine-readable codes of CMRCT can also be self-contained in asingle embodiment that is a fabric strip with hook and loop on one orboth sides. There are no limitations as to the length and width of thisfabric strip, however the dimensions generally would be within reasonsuch that, for example, a fabric strip can fit into a standard toolkit.The multiple machine-readable codes are tightly compacted onto one orboth physical surfaces, with at least one side of this surface having apatch of hook or loop such that the strap can attach to itself. Thepresent invention is not limited to any particular arrangement orspacing of codes on a length of fabric. The machine-readable codes beingphysically attached and tightly compacted on one or more surfaces givethe appearance of continuity for the aggregate of machine-readablecodes.

FIG. 15 shows an example of a section of CMRCT with numbers representinga cell containing a unique machine-readable pattern, and all cellsassigned to the same digital address. In this example, no cell with itsrespective pattern is similar to any other cell on this surface. A cellwith its respective pattern could represent, but is not limited to, aseparate and unique barcode or QR code. In other words, a cell couldcontain any type of machine-readable pattern. This example shows a pieceof CMRCT that uses completely unique machine-readable codes, howeverCMRCT can use an assortment of codes that are the same or different fromone another, such as in the example in FIG. 12. The shape of a cell'sperimeter is not limited to being square and instead could take on anyshape or any size. Of note, these unique codes are physically attachedin one single embodiment with little to no separation between eachindividual code. One or more of these codes can be scanned rapidly orsimultaneously using a machine-readable device, and compatible softwareon the machine-readable device can aggregate all the codes and assignthem to common set of digital addresses that can include one or moredigital addresses.

In the embodiment of FIG. 15, the code reader device generally wouldhave software compatible with CMRCT configured to scan and decode uniquecodes 1 through 60 very rapidly or simultaneously within the parametersof its scanning area. When the machine-readable device reads theseunique codes, it performs the aggregate effect by assigning one singledigital address to all the observable and readable codes, which, asdiscussed above, could be assigned to the entire set or to any uniquesubset of the 60 codes. If the device is unable to scan all the codessuccessfully, it can be programmed to infer any codes in between a setof successfully scanned codes, since the order of codes is stored in acentral database. If the device picks up code 4 and 57 for instance, thesoftware could be programmed such that it can infer codes 5 through 56also being on the tape. This capability adds a degree of flexibility tothe process of scanning CMRCT and also improves the speed of codescanning.

Definition of Adhesive Tape

For purposes of this discussion and claims, adhesive tape is one type ofsubstrate that can be used for embodiments of CMRCT. Generally speaking,tape can be characterized as a 3-dimensional rectangular object with ahigh aspect ratio, i.e., its x:y dimension aspect ratio is very high andits y:z dimension aspect ratio is also very high such that x>>y>>z. Forexample, the x (length) dimension is typically specified in yards, the y(width) dimension is typically specified in inches or cm, and the z(thickness) dimension is typically specified in ‘mil’s. Tape typicallyhas an adhesive layer, which generally means that at least one of itsx-y surfaces is sticky and adheres to certain types of surfaces, forexample glass, plastic, wood, metal, etc. Some tapes are double sided,e.g., having two sticky x-y surfaces. Tape is generally provided on aroll (e.g. the tape is wound around itself, typically on a hollowcylindrical core), although the present invention is not limited torolled tape. Embodiments of this invention can also take the form of anytype of tape, including but not limited to duct tape, gaffer tape,masking tape, packing tape, electrical tape, filament tape, paper tape,flagging or marking tape, surgical or wound closure tape, painter'stape, and double-sided tape.

Definition of a Fabric Strip with Hook and Loop Backing

For purposes of this discussion and claims, a fabric strip with hook andloop backing is another type of substrate that can be used forembodiments of CMRCT. Generally speaking, the strip can be characterizedas a 3-dimensional rectangular object with a high aspect ratio, i.e.,its x:y dimension aspect ratio is very high and its y:z dimension aspectratio is also very high such that x>>y>>z. For example, the x (length)dimension is typically specified in yards, the y (width) dimension istypically specified in inches or cm, and the z (thickness) dimension istypically specified in ‘mil’s. The fabric strip typically has twoseparate patches of ‘hook and loop’ on one or both sides, such that thefabric strip can wrap around objects and adhere to itself. Embodimentsof this invention can also take the form of any type of fabric toinclude, but not limited to, nylon, polyester, cotton, silk, wool, andlinen.

Advantages of CMRCT

The CMRCT product and process is specifically designed to overcome allthe limitations of unique codes on adhesive labels described previously.A person of ordinary skill in the art will notice that the advantages ofCMRCT closely parallel and overcome the limitations of currentmachine-readable code described previously. Some advantages aredescribed below.

Improved scale: The adhesive tape form factor allows a much greaternumber of machine-readable codes to be contained in a single unit ofadhesive tape. FIG. 16 shows an example photograph demonstratingmultiple machine-readable codes contained within a single roll of tape,represented by augmented reality ‘+’ symbols, condensed onto one visiblesection of CMRCT. In this example, for ease of visualizing, theindividual groupings of similar codes have been expanded, e.g., to a 5×5cm area, but it should be noted that these codes can be condensed intomuch smaller areas. Even with this larger code size, a number of uniquecodes can be condensed into a single roll of tape. This ability tocompact a large number of machine-readable codes on a single physicalsurface is mainly due to the unique codes being physically attached withminimal to no breaks in between codes. The smaller and more compact theunique codes are on the surface of the tape, the more unique codes canbe contained in a single unit of product. From a scale perspective, thisallows the cost per unique code to be driven down appreciably. Forinstance, a 30-yard roll of tape that measures 5 cm in width and uses2.5×2.5 cm codes with little to no breaks in between codes could contain2,194 individual and unique machine-readable codes. If the 30-yard rollof tape was priced at, say, $10, this means each unique code would costthe customer $0.0046.

Convenience and physical ruggedness: CMRCT is also much more conduciveto ‘on the fly’ and rugged use. The CMRCT process uses both adhesivetape and ‘hook and loop’ fabric strips as the primary form factors.

Due to adhesive tape typically adhering to itself when rolled (i.e.,without a liner), the unpackaged form factor generally prevents anyunfurling when, for instance, it is housed in a toolkit or a pocket.Secondly, because the tape is tightly wound with one surface stronglyadhered to the other surface beneath it, the tape is unlikely to getwrinkled, bent, or torn when in an unpackaged state and exposed to aharsh environment. In other words, the physical form factor of adhesivetape naturally lends itself to structural integrity. This means userscan unpackage the product, store it in an accessible manner, and use itreliably and ‘on the fly’ without fear of the codes getting physicallydamaged. FIG. 17 shows an example embodiment of CMRCT housed in a toolpouch. The adhesive tape form factor makes CMRCT a single integral unit,so the code adheres to itself and therefore does not unfurl. The natureof this form factor also ensures the structural integrity of the code,even when unpackaged. It also allows thousands of unique codes to bestored easily in a small volume that fits in something like this pouch.A person of ordinary skill in the art will note how FIG. 4 compares toFIG. 17, with the latter demonstrating how an adhesive tape form factoravoids unfurling and ensures the structural integrity of each uniquecode so that it can function as intended.

The fabric strip with hook and loop backing also offers similarruggedness that the adhesive tape offers. The code, being woven orprinted onto the fabric, is unlikely to get torn or bent in such a waythat the machine-readable code on the fabric becomes unreadable. Thismeans users can unpackage the product, store it in an accessible manner,and use it reliably and ‘on the fly’ without fear of the codes gettingphysically damaged. In other words, the physical form factor of fabricstrips naturally lends itself to structural integrity. Furthermore,unlike most tape embodiments, fabric strips generally can be reused moreeasily. FIG. 18 shows an example embodiment of the fabric strip in atool kit. A fabric strip form factor gives the CMRCT process a reusablecapability. The nature of this form factor also ensures the structuralintegrity of the code, even when unpackaged. A person of ordinary skillin the art will note how FIG. 4 compares to FIG. 18, with the latterdemonstrating how a fabric strip form factor ensures the structuralintegrity of each unique code.

Interaction with multiple codes rapidly: Machine readable codes onCMRCT, being physically attached and compacted onto a single physicallayer, allows a machine-readable device, with software that iscompatible with CMRCT, to successfully scan and read multiple codessimultaneously or very rapidly. This is useful for a key reason. WithCMRCT, and specifically with the adhesive tape form factor, a user canrip a piece of tape that could contain two or more unique and completecodes. FIG. 19 shows an example of a ripped piece of tape including 78unique codes (i.e., 7 through 84). With these multiple codes tightlycompacted on a single physical plane, a machine-readable device,compatible with CMRCT, can successfully scan many or all the codes onthe piece of tape simultaneously or very rapidly. In FIG. 19, codes 7-12and 80-84 are depicted as being incomplete or damaged, e.g., from theprocess of ripping the tape, and may be unreadable. FIG. 20 shows theripped piece of tape of FIG. 19 with the readable codes highlighted. Inthe FIG. 20 illustration, the machine-readable device is able tosuccessfully read the 67 codes highlighted in green (i.e., codes 13-79).The other 11 codes have part of the code missing and are thereforeassumed to be unreadable. Exemplary embodiments allow a user to assign asingle or multiple digital addresses to the aggregate ofmachine-readable codes simultaneously or very rapidly. In the FIG. 20illustration, all codes highlighted in green represent the aggregate ofreadable codes, and therefore codes 13-79 are assigned a single ormultiple digital addresses. Thus, for example, scanning any one or moreof codes 13-79 would provide access to the assigned digital address(es).Taking a step back, this aggregating effect provides a useful and uniquecapability. The user has the versatility to rip any size piece of tape,and provided this ripped piece of tape contains at least one completeunique code on the surface, the tape will allow the user access to achosen digital address(es). If the user happens to rip a piece of tapethat contains multiple unique codes, the aggregate acts as one integralcode assigned to the one or more digital addresses. This gives the userthe real time flexibility in creating a single, aggregated code that canhave a variable perimeter (i.e., length and width). FIG. 21 showsexamples of various perimeters and shapes that can be assigned to adigital address in accordance with exemplary embodiments, where FIG.21(a) shows examples of three different pieces of CMRCT with arbitraryperimeters/shapes and FIG. 21(b) shows examples of how a code readerdevice, compatible with CMRCT, can assign separate and discreet digitaladdresses (represented by the transparent boxes and accompanying images)to the three separate pieces of CMRCT of FIG. 21(a) regardless of sizeor shape.

Digital ruggedness and reliability: There is also another advantage tothis aggregate effect that makes CMRCT useful, and this is reliability.A piece of tape or fabric strip that contains two or more codes that areassigned to a digital address builds a layer of redundancy to theaggregate in question. As long as one unique code is observable andreadable, that one unique code is enough for the user to access thedigital content. FIG. 22 shows an example in which a portion of theripped tape of FIG. 20 has been damaged or obscured so as to leaveindividual readable and non-readable codes. In this example, codes 20through 23, 25 through 65, and 68 through 71 have been damaged orobscured such that these codes have become unreadable. However, codes 13through 19, 24, 66-67, and 72 through 79 are still readable. If the userscans the piece of CMRCT with a code reader device that is compatiblewith CMRCT, these readable codes will allow the user to gain access tothe digital address or addresses associated with the piece of tape. Infact, the user still has 18 redundant paths to that digital address oraddresses for this particular example, even after this sizable damage.If this same circumstance would have occurred using machine readablecode in its existing format, whereby the adhesive label contains onesingle code alone such as a barcode or QR code as shown in FIG. 23, thedamage would have rendered the codes unreadable and therefore would haveprevented the user from accessing the digital address(es) assigned tothat code. Of note, for QR codes specifically, the most damage they canwithstand is approximately 30% of the code's main body. This 30% figureis for QR codes that fall under Level H; the level with the highestdamage resistance. FIG. 23 illustrates significantly more than 30%damage, which would make this QR code unreadable. FIG. 22 also showssignificantly more than 30% damage, but the unique code redundancy ofCMRCT makes it still readable. Taking a step back, CMRCT and theaggregate effect makes the employment process more reliable andresistant to damage or obscuration because of the redundancy built intothe aggregate effect. FIG. 24 is a photograph of an actual demonstrationof this digital ruggedness feature using CMRCT in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment, where FIG. 24(a) is a screenshot of an undamagedpiece of CMRCT, FIG. 24(b) is a screenshot of the same piece of CMRCTwith unique codes aggregated and assigned to one digital address, FIG.24(c) shows this same piece of tape now damaged/obscured as simulated byobscuring a large area of the code with white tape, and FIG. 24(d) showsthat even with the damage, the code is still readable, where thetransparent boxes indicate which parts of the code are still readableand therefore which parts of the code enable access to the digitaladdress(es). Here, both ends of the aggregate piece that remainundamaged and observable are successfully read by a smart device asshown by the augmented reality squares above and below the white tape. Auser can appreciate how the aggregate effect and the redundancy builtinto a single aggregate provides a significant amount of flexibility inless than optimal conditions.

Enhanced versatility: Another advantage of CMRCT is the flexibility whenit comes to creating different code sizes in real time. The collectionof physically-attached and compacted codes provide many different waysto vary the size and shape of the aggregate. Furthermore, a user withcompatible software can reprogram the digital addresses assigned to eachaggregate. FIG. 25 shows an example of how CMRCT can still function asintended even if the code is ripped or spliced apart into twoaggregates. In the FIG. 25 illustration, the user can rip the tape inhalf, and reprogram one piece of the tape to be assigned one particulardigital address, while assigning a completely separate digital addressto the other piece. Thus, in this particular example, two pieces and therespective aggregates are assigned two different digital addresses.Taking a step back, this allows a user to rip or cut a machine-readablecode to many sizes or shapes and assign different digital addresses toany discreet pieces, provided each piece has at least one complete codecontained within. The user can also change the digital addresses of eachaggregate piece at any time. FIG. 26 demonstrates this enhancedversatility of CMRCT, where FIG. 26(a) is a screenshot of an arbitrarypiece of CMRCT, FIG. 26(b) is a screenshot of the same arbitrary pieceof CMRCT with codes aggregated and assigned to one digital address, FIG.26(c) is a screenshot of this same piece of tape cut in half and dividedinto two irregular shaped pieces, and FIG. 26(d) is a screenshotdemonstrating how these two pieces of the same tape can be reassigned totwo separate and discreet digital addresses using a machine-readabledevice that is compatible with CMRCT.

5. Additional Features for CMRCT

The following section outlines some specific added features of CMRCTthat those of ordinary skill in the art, informed by the presentinvention, will be able to do.

No scanning constraints: Embodiments of this invention, and specificallythe aggregate effect, are not limited to what a code reader device cansee in one frame of observation. Exemplary embodiments of the softwarecompatible with CMRCT allow scanning continuously or in discrete framesalong a length of tape. For instance, if a user has a tape wrappedaround a box, which prevents seeing the entire length of tape in oneframe of observation, the user can scan along the tape and around allsides to capture the individual codes and aggregate them. Additionallyor alternatively, a user could also scan two locations along the lengthof the tape (e.g., at the beginning and end of the tape), and thesoftware contained in the code reader device can infer the codes thatlie in between, and therefore aggregate the codes as discussed herein.In order for code reader device to do this, a central database holds alibrary of codes in the specific order in which they are placed on thetape, such that if the software recognizes two separate codes (e.g., thetwo ends of a length of tape), it can infer all the codes that lie inbetween without having to manually scan and aggregate all of them. FIG.27 shows an example of how a code reader device can read CMRCT atmultiple angles and aggregate over a length of time and at differentviewable angles to successfully aggregate the entire length of CMRCT. Acode reader device can also scan both ends of the tape, and rely on adigital library's organization of codes to infer which codes are betweenboth scanned edges. This would be a shortcut method for aggregatingcodes in this circumstance. Overall, the present invention is notlimited to any particular way of recording or aggregating a codeassociated with a segment of tape or fabric strip with hook and lookbacking.

Double Sided Tape: Certain embodiments of CMRCT will have codes (i.e.,the machine-readable pattern) on both sides of the tape, to include theside with adhesive. This will allow, for example, an individual to sticka piece of CMRCT on a transparent surface such as glass or plastic andhave that code readable from both sides of the transparent surface.

Codes on CMRCT outside of the visual spectrum: Certain embodiments ofCMRCT will have codes (i.e., the machine-readable pattern) on the tapethat are not visible to the naked eye, and only visible to amachine-readable device with the correct detection equipment. An exampleof this could be an ink used with CMRCT that can only be seen with an IRcamera. This will allow, for example, the subtle application of CMRCTwithout the code visible to the naked eye. This could be for cosmetic orcovert reasons, such as military applications.

Multilayer CMRCT capability: Certain embodiments of CMRCT canincorporate two or more layers of pattern, with each layer of patterndifferentiated by certain characteristics, including but not limited to,pattern colors or pattern shapes. An example of this is CMRCT using amulti-spectral ink and multi-spectral camera setup such that a differentpattern is presented in different bands of the spectrum. This allowsmultiple layers of machine-readable pattern to be superimposed on top ofeach other. This could be useful because it increases the optionalitywith storing digital content on a piece of CMRCT. An example of thisoptionality is securing user access. A single piece of CMRCT with twolayers of pattern can provide one user with one type of digital content,and another user with another type of digital content. A third usercould have access to both types of digital content. FIG. 28 shows anexample of how two different types of codes can be layered on top ofeach other. In this example, the two layers of pattern aredifferentiated by both color (e.g., Layer A might be blue and Layer Bmight be red) and width. The code reader device can be configured todifferentiate between both patterns and provide different digitalcontent for each pattern, e.g., based on an identity of the user or userdevice. This particular embodiment functions similarly to single-layercoded patterns but using multiple layers of coded patterns.

6. CMRCT Software

In exemplary embodiments, CMRCT is integrated with code reader devices.Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also include this relatedapparatus for scanning and processing such variable length segments andfor associating information with such variable-length segments. Forexample, certain exemplary embodiments provide a cloud-based softwaresolution and related “app” that allows users to scan any length of tapeand assign that entire segment to point to a unique digital address oraddresses where the user can store information, e.g., using the “app” ona smartphone or tablet to scan the code and storing associatedinformation in the cloud. FIG. 29 illustrates how a code reader devicecompatible with CMRCT assigns cloud stored data to a piece of CMRCT, inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment. Various embodiments of the“app” and cloud-based system may be implemented at least in part in anyconventional computer programming language. For example, someembodiments may be implemented in a procedural programming language(e.g., “C”), or in an object-oriented programming language (e.g.,“C++”).

Those skilled in this area should appreciate that such computerinstructions can be written in a number of programmable languages foruse with many computer architectures or operating systems. Computerprogram logic implementing all or part of the functionality previouslydescribed herein may be executed at different times on a singleprocessor (e.g., concurrently) or may be executed at the same ordifferent times on multiple processors and may run under a singleoperating system process/thread or under different operatingsystems/threads. Thus, the term “computer process” refers generally tothe execution of a set of computer program instructions regardless ofwhether different computer processes are executed on the same ordifferent processors and regardless of whether different computerprocesses run under the same operating system process/thread ordifferent operating system processes/threads.

The activities described and claimed herein provide technologicalsolutions to problems that arise squarely in the realm of technology.These solutions as a whole are not well-understood, routine, orconventional and in any case provide practical applications thattransform and improve computers and computer routing systems.

7. Example CMRCT Use Cases

Without limitation, the following are some exemplary uses andapplications for CMRCT contemplated by inventors:

Rapid information creation and exchange in rugged environments(Construction, Oil and Gas, Freight and Containers, Military FrontlineLogisitics): A frontline worker can rip an arbitrary piece of tape,stick it to a precise object or location, and quickly upload digitalcontent relating to that location or object. This can be, for example, aquick upload of a spreadsheet, a photo, a video, a voice memo, or aconversation thread. Another worker walks by, sees the tape, and quicklyscans over it with a code reader device to access that information.

An example of this use case is rapid voice memos. For example, asupervisor rips a piece of tape, sticks it to a wall, scans a smartdevice over it and verbalizes an instruction. The voice is captured forthe piece of tape automatically. Another worker can hold a differentdevice over the tape and hear the voice of their supervisor givinginstructions pertaining to that specific location.

Another example is videos. For example, an expert records a video of howto fix a complex piece of equipment. The expert rips a piece of tape,sticks it to the exact location that pertains to the video, and uploadsthe video itself. Another worker who needs to fix the equipment but doesnot have the expertise to do so can scan over the tape, see the video,and apply the fix. That worker can also upload questions or comments onthe tape through the app. An expert can remotely track the comments andanswer the questions. CMRCT gives the expert a low-cost way to spreadtheir expertise easily across a vast physical space so that they nolonger have to be physically present to apply their knowledge. A workerwithout the necessary expertise can quickly cross reference the digitalcontent containing the expertise and tie it to the exact location towhich it belongs.

Another example is tracking equipment or inventory using custom-sizedtape. For example, a worker can tear a small patch of CMRCT and attachit to an individual piece of equipment such as a hand drill. Any time aworker scans over the small patch of tape, the central database cantrack who used the tool, when and where. The same worker can use a longstrip of CMRCT from the same roll to wrap around an entire box ofinventory. This allows the worker to track the box in the same way asthe tool, however the worker can customize the machine-readable label'ssize so that it is more conspicuous and can be scanned from multiplesides of the box. The same worker uses the same roll of CMRCT to tape an‘X’ shape to a door that has heavy machinery behind it. This easilyrecognizable ‘X’ shape, visible to the naked eye, tells other workersthat the digital content uploaded to this particular ‘X’ is consideredhigh priority. In this example, a worker should not enter the roomwithout listening to safety instructions contained in the form of avoice memo on the tape. FIG. 30 shows a screenshot of software,compatible with CMRCT, able to assign a single digital address to twopieces of tape forming an aggregate in the shape of an ‘X’. Thisversatility allows workers to add visual cues, visible to the naked eye,on top of the digital content uploaded to the tape.

Tracking large crowds of people on secure sites (Construction, Oil andGas, Military bases): The need to track individuals and theirinformation as they work in secure places is important. ID badges arelimited in the information they can hold and can fall off or bemisplaced, and facial recognition software is expensive and has privacyconcerns. CMRCT is a low cost, versatile way to attach digital contentpertaining to an individual and attach it to something like a safetyhelmet, without the need for invasive facial recognition.

An example of this is a supervisor who must track different groups ofindividuals with different types of skills. For example, the supervisorcan have many different rolls of CMRCT, each with different colorcombinations—black and white, red and white, and green and white. Thesupervisor decides to assign information about an individual's identify(name, qualifications, training history) to the black and white tape,the individual's safety record to the green and white tape, and theindividual's record of emergency data (blood type, next of kin,allergies) to the red and white tape. The supervisor also decides thatdifferent shapes signify which department that individual belongs to. Atape in the shape of an “L” is one department, and “T” another. With theversatility that CMRCT offers, a supervisor can easily create a systemto track individuals and quickly identify relevant information aboutthem.

Another example is a task board. For example, a supervisor traditionallyhas a white board that tracks people on the site, what they are doingand completion times. The supervisor has a roll of CMRCT that holdsindividual sections of repeated code. For instance, each 6-inch segmentof tape holds multiple repeated codes, but each 6-inch segment isdifferent than any other 6-inch segment on the tape (i.e., similar toFIG. 12). In this case, the segments are clearly defined and separatedon the tape. The supervisor takes a single 6-inch segment of repeatedcode, rips it in half, and puts one half on the board and the other halfon the individual's helmet. Because this section of the tape usesrepeated (i.e. similar) code, it means scanning the tape on the boardand scanning the tape on the helmet allows the user to access the samedigital address linked to both pieces of tape. This process is similarto a raffle ticket whereby a single ticket gets ripped in half and eachhalf contains the same number. The supervisor has now added a digitallayer to a simple white board using a roll of CMRCT. The user with thehelmet can quickly scan their helmet and provide updates through voiceor photographs. The supervisor can quickly scan over the same tape onthe board and receive those updates.

Tracking Medical Patients as they are transferred from one layer of careto another: In time sensitive situations, the ability to transferinformation about a patient from one form of care to another isparamount. Time can be the difference between life and death. CMRCT onan adhesive tape (e.g., surgical or wound closure tape) or on a fabricstrip with hook and loop backing is a quick way to attach digitalcontent to a patient. A medical facility can have 100s of these fabricstrips at low cost, with each of the fabric strips fully aggregated andassigned to a unique digital address, such that a user can scan anysegment of the strip (i.e., any individual code on the strip) andrapidly access the digital content assigned to it.

An example is a first responder. They treat the patient at the site ofinjury. After treatment, they attach a CMRCT fabric strip to thepatient's arm and secure it using the hook and loop. They scan any partof the strip with a machine-readable device to quickly access itsrelevant file. Once the scan is complete, they can quickly addinformation about the patient such as voice memo detailing treatmentgiven. The next layer of care can access that voice memo remotely on thedatabase so they are better prepared when the patient arrives. As soonas the patient arrives, they can scan any part of the fabric stripattached to the patient to confirm the patient and access any otherdigital information pertaining to the patient.

Consumer uses CMRCT to track their storage: Since CMRCT uses adhesivetape, it can be compatible with packing tape, such that the same tapeused to secure boxes containing belongings can also be used to track thecontents.

An example is a moving situation. For example, the user packs the boxand takes photos of the contents. They secure the box with CMRCT tapeand scan each end of the tape. Since the CMRCT central database holdsand organizes all of the machine-readable codes (i.e., patterns) in theorder in which they are presented on the tape, the compatible softwarecan infer all the codes that lie in between the edges scanned by theuser. By simple scanning the edges of the tape, the user quicklyaggregates all the individual codes on the tape and assigns them to acommon digital address. Once the scan is complete, the user can uploadthe photograph of the contents to the tape on the box, or leave a voicememo giving movers instructions on how to handle the box. The consumercan update or see the contents of this tape at any time by looking it upon a digital library. Movers can also easily add content to the tapesuch as updates for the consumer. Often, moving boxes get stacked on topof each other. A regular QR code or barcode label might not be easilyobservable if, for instance, the side with the label is up againstanother box. However, since CMRCT can be different sizes (i.e.,lengths), the label can stretch around many different sides of the box,similar to how packing tape is commonly used. This means a user can scanany part of the tape and access the relevant digital content.

In another example, a user needs to find an object in a box. Forexample, the user looks up the object in the digital library, finds thebox it is assigned to, and highlights the augmented reality image seenif the CMRCT tape is scanned. This highlight could be a red ‘X’ that isunique to the box in question. The user then goes to the storage spaceand scans the boxes. Since CMRCT is versatile in size (i.e., length),the coded tape can wrap around multiple sides of the boxes and thusincrease the chances of being easily observed. The user rapidly scansany observable part of the tape on each box, looking for the red ‘X’.Once they see it, they know that the box in question contains the item.

An individual uses CMRCT to add a layer of security to a physicallocation or an asset: A user can tape a piece of CMRCT to a location oran asset and upload a passcode required to gain full access to thatrelevant location or asset. A simple scan of the CMRCT reveals thepasscode. The user can restrict access to the digital content on thetape, however, such that only individuals with the right permissions canaccess that content. This can be in the form of biometrics native tomany machine-readable devices (e.g., smartphones). A user must have thecorrect thumbprint or facial scan to see the digital content on the tapethrough an app that is compatible with CMRCT. Since this layer ofbiometric security is effectively transferred to the tape, the tapebecomes a low-cost mechanism to add this layer of security to almostanything.

Other exemplary uses cases of CMRCT: Without limitation, the followingis a list of some further exemplary use cases of CMRCT. Since many ofthe advantages are similar to the ones listed above, these use cases areshortened.

Inventory and supply chains can augment their barcode system with an adhoc one, giving users a quick and accessible way to make their ownmachine-readable codes by ripping a piece of tape and tracking themusing ubiquitous smart devices. CMRCT fills the last mile in the barcodesystem whereby most users don't have access to barcode scanners orbarcode label makers, but the majority of users could have access totape and a smart device.

Security can use a piece of CMRCT as a low cost 911 call center, wherebya quick scan of the tape adds a user identity and accurate geolocationcoupled with the 911 call.

Military covert operations: The military can use CMRCT as a covert wayto exchange information using the added feature of machine-readablepattern printed in the infrared spectrum.

Commercial shipping fulfillment centers can use CMRCT on shipping boxesas a quick way to advertise promotions and track user engagement.

Computer guidance: CMRCT can be used to help computer scanners forrobots, airborne or ground vehicles, or portable machines. The CMRCT canaugment the ability for these machines to navigate the 3D space byscanning and tracking the relative position of pieces of CMRCT stuck toprecise and known locations.

Augmented Reality Anchoring: CMRCT can help mitigate augmented realitydrift by providing such systems a static and precise point of referencein the form of a piece of CMRCT stuck to a specific location. CMRCT islow cost and can stick to almost any surface, especially in a duct tapeform factor, so it is an optimal solution for anchoring augmentedreality.

Custom Personalization: Since the CMRCT process can technically use anyform of machine-readable code, it allows users to customize the codeinside each continuous cell such that users can, for instance, brandtheir CMRCT with company or personal logos.

Consumer uses a CMRCT fabric strip to add a digital layer to a suitcasetag.

Consumer uses a piece of CMRCT to add a digital layer to a paperadvertisement (e.g., a video).

Consumer uses a piece of CMRCT as a digital version of a sticky note.

Consumers use CMRCT as a way to securely encode messages to one another.

Consumer uses CMRCT to add a digital layer to a messaging board on anoffice or dormitory door.

It should be noted that embodiments of the present invention are notlimited to barcodes, QR codes, or the like, but instead can includeother types of encodings including, for example, patterns incorporatingstrips oriented in one or more directions (such as, for example,associated with the warp and/or weft of a fabric) encoding informationbased on characteristics of the strips (e.g., the relative widths,lengths, and/or positions of the strips, which can be linear ornon-linear such as circular strips), or a pattern incorporated into arepresentational aesthetic environment (e.g., depicted as plants orgrasses or other aesthetic elements that hide the fact that an encodedpattern is present. Such patterns are described in various patentapplications filed by Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA),including PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/026549 filed Apr. 9,2019; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/682,975 entitledUniquely Identifiable Articles of Fabric Configured for DataCommunication filed on Jun. 10, 2018; U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/743,913 entitled Uniquely Identifiable Articles ofFabric Configured for Data Communication filed on Oct. 10, 2018; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/781,437 entitled UniquelyIdentifiable Articles of Fabric Configured for Data Communication filedDec. 18, 2018; PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US2018/012193 filed Jan.3, 2018; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/442,283 filed Jan.4, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/521,150 filedJun. 16, 2017, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. Thus, embodiments can incorporate AFFOA's so-calledLOOKS™ technologies into the tape, “app,” and/or cloud-based system. Thepresence of many of these types of machine-readable codes, as well ascertain other types of codes, may not be discernible by a human. Forexample, codes on the tape may appear as plaid patterns, randompatterns, camouflage patterns, multi-color patterns, aesthetic patterns,etc.

In certain exemplary embodiments, the pattern looks like plaid made oftwo or more colors, e.g., one or more foreground colors (the ‘lines’)and one background color. It is composed of x-lines that run the entirelength of the tape, and orthogonal y-lines that run the entire width ofthe tape. Usually, but not always, there are an equal number of x-linesand y-lines in any given cell, therefore the total number of y-lines ismuch greater than the total number x-lines. The x-lines can have varyingwidths and are not necessarily distributed evenly across the tape width.The y-lines can have varying widths and are not necessarily distributedevenly along the tape length. The x-lines in each cell are identical andpositioned in the exact same location in each cell and so appear to runcontinuously through the length of the tape. The y-lines are uniquelypositioned along the x-dimension of each cell, therefore making eachcell unique.

Together, this unique plaid code pattern and companion software allowfor a higher distance readability on a smartphone versus existing QR andbarcode solutions. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, it isexpected that a square cell of this pattern can be read from a distanceof about 20× the square's length using no optical zoom function. Forexample, in an exemplary embodiment, a 5 cm×5 cm square can be read froma distance of 1 m. In comparison, regular QR codes can be read from onlyabout 10× the code's length, making the described solutions 2x better indistance reading.

It should be noted that there may be a predetermined minimum segmentlength in order to identify a unique code, e.g., the tape may begin anew code every X inches on the tape (e.g., every 10 inches). In suchembodiments, the user would have to tear off a segment of at least theminimum length. The tape can be marked (e.g., printed) every X inches sothat the user can identify the start and end of codes. The marking couldinclude a company's logo or brand, which would help the company exposetheir brand.

FIG. 31 shows a roll of tape including successive cells with uniqueplaid codes, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. Each cell canbe uniquely coded, for example, by varying the width/thickness of one ormore vertical bars, the distance between two or more vertical bars, thewidth/thickness of one or more horizontal bars, the distance between twoor more horizontal bars, and/or the color of one or more bars. FIG. 32shows additional details of the exemplary tape of FIG. 31 includingdemarcations between adjacent cells (coded sections) that may be printedon the tape, e.g., in the form of designated cut lines between adjacentcells.

As discussed above, tapes can be encoded using aesthetically pleasingpatterns. FIG. 39 shows some exemplary encoded custom patterns, inaccordance with various exemplary embodiments. The exemplary patternsshown in FIG. 39 show demarcation locations between adjacent codes/cellsthat, again, may be printed on the tape. Each cell can be uniquely codedby varying the patterns, e.g., the width, thickness, and/or position ofrings in the top pattern or flower petal details in the bottom pattern.

FIG. 40 shows a branded tape, in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment. Here, encodings can be varied, for example, by varyingdetails of the “B,” varying the woodgrain details in the baseball bats,varying seam details on the baseball, varying details on the band of thesocks, varying the positions/orientations of the various elements,and/or varying other details (e.g., the length of the baseball batgrips). One, two, three, or all four of the elements shown may encompassa single code, e.g., the “B”, the bats, the ball, and the socks may beseparate codes, or all four together may be a single code.

It should be noted that the tape can include anchor marks (e.g., acircle or “bullseye” mark) and/or other demarcations denoting locationsof codes on the tape, which could help the user in removing a sufficientamount of tape to ensure that a removed section of tape includes atleast one scannable code (e.g., if a section of tape includes at leasttwo anchor marks or other demarcations then the user may be reasonablycertain that the removed section of tape includes at least one scannablecode). Such anchor marks and/or other demarcations also can help thescanner (e.g., “app”) identify, focus, and capture a code. FIG. 33 showsa section of tape including portions of three adjacent codes separatedby demarcations and including anchor marks, in accordance with oneexemplary embodiment

When the user is using an “app” to capture an image of the code, the“app” might provide a centering mark on the camera screen that the usermoves onto one of the anchoring marks and adjusts the camera distance sothat the tape/code is within predetermined border lines on the camerascreen. FIG. 34 shows an example of a centering mark and border lines,in accordance with one exemplary embodiment.

When the user successfully captures an image of the code, the user canuse the “app” to provide digital information for storage associated withthe code. FIG. 35 shows some exemplary user interface screens inaccordance with one exemplary embodiment. Here, FIG. 35(a) shows a mainmenu of options for the user. Specifically, the user can choose tosearch for tapes (e.g., when viewing a scene via the device's camera,the app may locate all encoded tapes in the scene and may displayinformation about each identified tape for which information isstored/available), create a new tape (e.g., store information for a newpiece of encoded tape), scan an existing tape (e.g., focus the camera ona piece of tape in order to obtain information about that piece oftape), and edit profile information. Assuming the user chooses to createa new tape from the screen in FIG. 35(a), a “create new tape” screen asshown in FIG. 35(b) is presented in order to allow the user to addinformation for the new piece of tape including such things as a photo,notes, a security setting, and an uploaded file. After addinginformation for the new piece of tape, the user can capture an image ofone or more codes on the piece of tape from the screen shown in FIG.35(c), e.g., by navigating the phone so that a centering mark presentedby the app overlays an anchor mark of a code on the tape. Once the code(or codes) is captured, the information entered by the user isassociated with the code(s) as represented in FIG. 35(d).

The user could physically mark the location on the tape that was used,e.g., by writing with pen on the anchor mark. FIG. 36 shows a physicallymarked location on the tape, in accordance with one exemplaryembodiment.

One exemplary process flow for capturing one or more codes andassociating information with the captured code(s) is now described withreference to the various graphical user interface screens shown in FIG.37. FIG. 37(a) shows a screen in which the app is searching in acaptured image for one or more codes (referred to here as a “label”).FIG. 37(b) shows a screen in which a detected label is highlighted suchthat the user can select the label (e.g., by “tapping” on it) in orderto obtain information and options regarding the label. FIG. 37(c) showsa screen that is displayed after the user taps on the label in FIG.37(b). From this screen, the user can scan a desired length of the labeland create a new label record. FIG. 37(d) shows a representation of thescreen of FIG. 37(c) with the user selecting the accept (i.e.,checkmark) button in order to navigate to the “Edit Label” screen asshown in FIG. 37(e). From this screen, the user can enter a label nameand upload an image corresponding to the label, for example, as shown inFIG. 37(f). When the user saves the label name and uploaded image inFIG. 37(f), the user is presented with a label-specific screen fromwhich the user can edit and add information for the label, as shown inFIG. 37(g). When the user selects the “add content” (i.e., plus sign)button, the user is presented with an “add content” screen as shown inFIG. 37(h). From this screen, the user can add text, image, video,and/or audio content for the label, for example, as represented in FIG.37(i). After saving the added content, the label name, label image, andlabel content can be accessed any time the label is scanned. Forexample, FIG. 37(j) shows a screen in which the label is scanned, atwhich time the label name and label image is displayed. The user can tapon the display in order to access additional content such as any text,image, video, or audio content, as represented in FIG. 37(k). FIG. 37(l)shows a screen in which multiple labels are within a captured image,with relevant information shown for two of labels and one of the labelshighlighted so that the user can tap on the highlighted label in orderto create a label record for the label.

Another exemplary process flow for capturing one or more codes andassociating information with the captured code(s) is now described withreference to the various graphical user interface screens shown in FIG.38. FIG. 38(a) is an illustration showing a library of CMRCT patternstored in the cloud or any form of database. This pattern has yet to beassigned to a specific digital address. A compatible software knows theorder of this unique collection of patterns. FIG. 38(b) is a screenshowing a CMRCT compatible app searching for and finding an arbitrarysegment of CMRCT pattern. This segment of tape happens to be damagedsignificantly, yet the entire segment is still readable because thesoftware successfully infers the damaged and unreadable codes in betweenthose that are readable. In other words, it can fill in the gaps betweenundamaged codes since the order of unique codes is previously known andstored in the cloud or central database. This arbitrary pattern containsone or more unique codes in this case. By clicking on the ‘+’ sign, theuser aggregates all the unique code that are in view and bounded by theL shaped indicators. FIG. 38(c) is a screen showing the arbitrarysegment of unique codes now assigned to a single digital address. Theuser has the option of adding any type of digital content. In this case,the user can add an image, a voice memo, or some text either in realtime or pulled from the user's existing database. FIG. 38(d) is a screenshowing the user adding a voice memo to the arbitrary piece of tape.Once complete, this voice memo and any other type of digital contentfalling under the digital address is now assigned to this arbitrarypiece of CMRCT tape. FIG. 38(e) is a screen showing other types ofdigital content assigned to the arbitrary piece of tape and itsrespective digital address. FIG. 38(f) shows how another user with thesame compatible software can scan this tape and immediately access thedigital content stored for the arbitrary piece of tape. In this example,the second user's camera need only scan one of the multiple machinereadable codes on the tape to gain access. The software recognizes thepattern, knows it is already assigned to a digital address, pulls upthat digital address, and displays the relevant content. FIG. 38(g) is ascreen showing the digital content assigned to that arbitrary piece oftape. In this example, this is the same content as seen in FIG. 38(e)(i.e., the content is shared between both users over a network). In thisexample, this user can edit/delete or add information to the storeddigital content as necessary, although in some embodiments, some or allusers may be provided with “read only” access (and different users couldbe given different access privileges). FIG. 38(h) is a screen showing adigital library of different pieces of tape. In addition to a userscanning a tape to gain access to the tape's digital content, thelibrary feature can also enable remote access. FIG. 38(i) is a screenshowing how a user can gain access to the same content via the digitallibrary as the user could access by scanning the corresponding sectionof tape.

Thus, generally speaking, a CMRCT image processing software and systemis configured to receive at least one scanned image of at least aportion of an arbitrary length segment of the tape of claim 1 (whichcould include, for example, a scan of the entire length of the segmentor and arbitrary section of tape at a first location and at a secondlocation), identify the distinct set of machine-readable codes on thearbitrary section of the tape based on the at least one scanned image(which could include, for example, inferring one or more codes), andassociate the distinct set of machine-readable codes with a common setof digital addresses. At any time, but typically at least at the timethe distinct set of machine-readable codes is associated with one ormore digital addresses, information may be received and stored for oneor more of the digital addresses. Also at any time, an input identifyingany one or more of the distinct set of machine-readable codes associatedwith the arbitrary section of the tape (e.g., a photographic orvideographic scan of at least a portion of the segment of tape) may bereceived, and in response, user access may be provided to at least onemember of the common set of digital addresses via a user interface of auser device.

It should be noted that alternative embodiments can include adhesivetape similar to the types discussed above but where the tape comprisesrepeated, identical, machine-readable codes along a longitudinal portionof the tape up to and including the entire length of the tape. In thisway, for example, the entire longitudinal portion of tape (and perhapseven multiple rolls of tape) can be associated with the same digitalinformation based on the single unique code on the tape(s). As opposedto using tape to mark different objects with different codes as invarious embodiments described above, tape with repeated, identical,machine-readable codes can be used to mark different objects with thesame code and hence to associate different objects with the same set ofdigital addresses.

Without limitation, the following are some exemplary uses andapplications for “digital tape” having repeated, identical,machine-readable codes:

Identification: A company such as Amazon assigns a unique code to eachof its packaging associates (i.e., people who are responsible forpackaging products for shipment) and provides rolls of tape with theunique codes to each of its packaging associates. Each packagingassociate uses his or her rolls of tape to seal packages, therebymarking each package with the identity of the packaging associate. Thecompany then can easily associate each package with the packagingassociate who handled the package, e.g., if there was a packaging erroror customer complaint.

Routing: A unique code is assigned to each of a number of locations ordestinations (e.g., rooms in a house, floors in a building, departmentsin a company, shipping zones, etc.), and rolls of tape are produced withcodes for these locations or destinations. In order to route an objectto a particular location or destination, the object is marked orpackaged using the appropriate roll of tape. Each object then can bescanned to identify the desired location or destination for the object.

In conclusion, the described embodiments provide unique solutions fortagging digital information to a specific, physical location in a formthat is more easily accessible, durable, customizable-in-length, andcapable of being read from a distance using a smartphone or otherappropriately-configured device. This unique capability unlocks thepotential to meet a whole new realm of customer needs.

8. Miscellaneous

It should be noted that headings are used above for convenience and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention in any way.

It should be noted that fastening materials used on a tape substrategenerally include an adhesive for adhesive tape embodiments andhook-and-loop fasteners for fabric strip embodiments, although othertypes of fastening materials can be used in various alternativeembodiments. For example, embodiments can be made with a metallic ormagnetic material layer to allow for magnetically attaching a section oftape to an object, and other embodiments can allow for electrostaticallyattaching a section of tape to an object.

It should be noted that adhesives used in adhesive tape embodiments arenot limited to any particular type of adhesive. For example, some tapesmay use strong adhesives that make it difficult or impossible to removethe tape from an object without damaging the tape, while other tapes mayuse adhesives that allow for removal and/or reuse/replacement of asection of tape (e.g., a low-tack adhesive). Types of tapes andadhesives can be selected based on specific implementations, e.g., wateractivated tapes/adhesives, pressure sensitive tapes/adhesives, adhesivesthat do not leave residue on planned surfaces, tapes/adhesives that havea sufficient strength for a planned purpose such as sealing packages,etc.

It should be noted that different types of tapes, fastening materials,codes, and other elements may be described herein individually but canbe used in any combination or combinations, e.g., any type of code canbe used on any type of tape including any type of fastening material.Scanning of arbitrary length segments of tape can be done manually(e.g., with a hand-held scanner device such as a smartphone running anapp of the types described herein or in communication with a system thatprocesses images captured by the hand-held scanner device) orautomatically (e.g., a packaging facility might have a scanner thatautomatically scans arbitrary length segments such as after a person ormachine attaches a segment to a package and in some cases canautomatically associate one or more digital address with the code orcodes on the segment).

Various embodiments of the “app” and cloud-based system may beimplemented at least in part in any conventional computer programminglanguage. For example, some embodiments may be implemented in aprocedural programming language (e.g., “C”), or in an object-orientedprogramming language (e.g., “C++”). Other embodiments of the inventionmay be implemented as a pre-configured, stand-alone hardware elementand/or as preprogrammed hardware elements (e.g., application specificintegrated circuits, FPGAs, and digital signal processors), or otherrelated components.

In an alternative embodiment, the disclosed apparatus and methods (e.g.,see the various flow charts described above) may be implemented as acomputer program product for use with a computer system. Suchimplementation may include a series of computer instructions fixed on atangible, non-transitory medium, such as a computer readable medium(e.g., a diskette, CD-ROM, ROM, or fixed disk). The series of computerinstructions can embody all or part of the functionality previouslydescribed herein with respect to the system.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that such computerinstructions can be written in a number of programming languages for usewith many computer architectures or operating systems. Furthermore, suchinstructions may be stored in any memory device, such as semiconductor,magnetic, optical or other memory devices, and may be transmitted usingany communications technology, such as optical, infrared, microwave, orother transmission technologies.

Among other ways, such a computer program product may be distributed asa removable medium with accompanying printed or electronic documentation(e.g., shrink wrapped software), preloaded with a computer system (e.g.,on system ROM or fixed disk), or distributed from a server or electronicbulletin board over the network (e.g., the Internet or World Wide Web).In fact, some embodiments may be implemented in a software-as-a-servicemodel (“SAAS”) or cloud computing model. Of course, some embodiments ofthe invention may be implemented as a combination of both software(e.g., a computer program product) and hardware. Still other embodimentsof the invention are implemented as entirely hardware, or entirelysoftware.

Computer program logic implementing all or part of the functionalitypreviously described herein may be executed at different times on asingle processor (e.g., concurrently) or may be executed at the same ordifferent times on multiple processors and may run under a singleoperating system process/thread or under different operating systemprocesses/threads. Thus, the term “computer process” refers generally tothe execution of a set of computer program instructions regardless ofwhether different computer processes are executed on the same ordifferent processors and regardless of whether different computerprocesses run under the same operating system process/thread ordifferent operating system processes/threads.

Importantly, it should be noted that embodiments of the presentinvention may employ conventional components such as conventionalcomputers (e.g., off-the-shelf PCs, mainframes, microprocessors),conventional programmable logic devices (e.g., off-the shelf FPGAs orPLDs), or conventional hardware components (e.g., off-the-shelf ASICs ordiscrete hardware components) which, when programmed or configured toperform the non-conventional methods described herein, producenon-conventional devices or systems. Thus, there is nothing conventionalabout the inventions described herein because even when embodiments areimplemented using conventional components, the resulting devices andsystems (e.g., the “app” and cloud-based system) are necessarilynon-conventional because, absent special programming or configuration,the conventional components do not inherently perform the describednon-conventional functions.

The activities described and claimed herein provide technologicalsolutions to problems that arise squarely in the realm of technology.These solutions as a whole are not well-understood, routine, orconventional and in any case provide practical applications thattransform and improve computers and computer routing systems.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other means and/or structures for performing the functionand/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantagesdescribed herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications isdeemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments describedherein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters,dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon thespecific application or applications for which the inventive teachingsis/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is,therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presentedby way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claimsand equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventiveembodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, ofwhich examples have been provided. The acts performed as part of themethod may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments maybe constructed in which acts are performed in an order different thanillustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, eventhough shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in thespecification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in theclaims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements soconjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some casesand disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with“and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” ofthe elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be presentother than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause,whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when usedin conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer,in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other thanB); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionallyincluding other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should beunderstood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. Forexample, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall beinterpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, butalso including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated tothe contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when usedin the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactlyone element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or”as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusivealternatives (i.e., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded byterms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or“exactly one of” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims,shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual ofPatent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

Although the above discussion discloses various exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, it should be apparent that those skilled in the art canmake various modifications that will achieve some of the advantages ofthe invention without departing from the true scope of the invention.Any references to the “invention” are intended to refer to exemplaryembodiments of the invention and should not be construed to refer to allembodiments of the invention unless the context otherwise requires. Thedescribed embodiments are to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive.

Various embodiments of the present invention may be characterized by thepotential claims listed in the paragraphs following this paragraph (andbefore the actual claims provided at the end of the application). Thesepotential claims form a part of the written description of theapplication. Accordingly, subject matter of the following potentialclaims may be presented as actual claims in later proceedings involvingthis application or any application claiming priority based on thisapplication. Inclusion of such potential claims should not be construedto mean that the actual claims do not cover the subject matter of thepotential claims. Thus, a decision to not present these potential claimsin later proceedings should not be construed as a donation of thesubject matter to the public. Nor are these potential claims intended tolimit various pursued claims.

Without limitation, potential subject matter that may be claimed(prefaced with the letter “P” so as to avoid confusion with the actualclaims presented below) includes:

P1. An adhesive tape comprising:

a non-repetitive varying pattern on at least one of its surfaces.

P2. Claim P1, with said pattern having been printed on a visiblesurface.

P3. Claim P1, with said pattern being machine-detectable from at leastone side of the tape.

P4. Claim P1, wherein the non-repetitive varying pattern comprises aplurality of unique codes arranged successively along a longitudinalportion of the tape.

P5. Claim P4, wherein the unique codes encompass substantially equallengths of the tape.

P6. Claim P4, wherein the unique codes are arranged with little or nospace between adjacent codes.

P7. Claim P4, wherein the unique codes are arranged with a gap betweenadjacent codes

P8. Claim P4, wherein the unique codes are arranged with a demarcationbetween adjacent codes for visually indicating the start and end of eachunique code.

P9. Claim P1, with said tape being a pressure sensitive tape.

P10. Claim P9, with said tape being duct tape.

P11. Claim P2, with said pattern comprising parallel and orthogonallines

P12. Claim P11, wherein the pattern comprising parallel and orthogonallines cover substantially the entire length and width of the tape.

P13. Claim P3, using a camera with image processing software.

P14. Claim P2, with said pattern comprising of adjacent square ‘cells’of length and width equal to the width of the tape.

P15. Claim P14, with said cells each containing a unique,machine-detectable code.

P16. An adhesive tape as in any of the above claims, wherein the tape isrolled.

P17. An image processing system that assigns multiple machine-detectablecodes to the same digital address.

P18. Claim P17, where said codes are the unique codes on a tape.

P19. Claim P18, where said codes are physically adjacent to each otheron a segment of tape.

P20. Claim P19, wherein the unique codes are arranged with little or nospace between adjacent codes.

P21. Claim P19, wherein the unique codes are arranged with a gap betweenadjacent codes.

P22. Claim P19, wherein the unique codes are arranged with a demarcationbetween adjacent codes for visually indicating the start and end of eachunique code.

P23. A system for digital data to interact with physical objectscomprising:

-   -   the adhesive tape as in any of the claims P1-P16 above; and    -   the image processing software as in any of claims P17-P22 above.

P24. An adhesive tape comprising repeated, identical, machine-readablecodes along a longitudinal portion of the tape.

What is claimed is:
 1. An encoded tape comprising: at least one fastenermaterial on at least one surface of the tape; and a non-repetitivevarying pattern on at least one surface of the tape, the non-repetitivevarying pattern encoding a plurality of different machine-readablecodes, wherein the tape is separable into a plurality of arbitrarylength segments including distinct sets of machine-readable codes thatuniquely identify each such segment from other such segments of thetape, and wherein each arbitrary length segment of tape is attachable toan object using the at least one fastener material on the at least onesurface of the arbitrary length segment of tape.
 2. A tape according toclaim 1, wherein said pattern is printed on a visible surface of thetape.
 3. A tape according to claim 1, wherein said pattern ismachine-detectable from at least one side of the tape.
 4. A tapeaccording to claim 1, wherein the non-repetitive varying patterncomprises a plurality of unique codes arranged successively along alongitudinal portion of the tape in both length and width.
 5. A tapeaccording to claim 1, wherein the unique codes encompass substantiallyequal lengths of the tape.
 6. A tape according to claim 1, wherein theunique codes are arranged with little to no space between adjacentcodes.
 7. A tape according to claim 1, wherein the unique codes arearranged with a gap between adjacent codes.
 8. A tape according to claim1, wherein the pattern comprises demarcations identifying locations ofthe machine-readable codes on the tape.
 9. A tape according to claim 1,wherein the at least one fastener material comprises a pressuresensitive material.
 10. A tape according to claim 1, wherein the atleast one fastener material comprises an adhesive that does not leaveresidue on at least one selected surface to be taped.
 11. A tapeaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener materialcomprises a water activated adhesive.
 12. A tape according to claim 1,wherein the at least one fastener material comprises hook fasteners andloop fasteners.
 13. A tape according to claim 1, wherein the pattern onthe tape is not visually discernible by a human as including thepresence of machine-readable codes.
 14. A tape according to claim 1,wherein the pattern on the tape is outside of the visual spectrum suchthat the presence of machine-readable codes on the tape is not visuallydiscernible by a human.
 15. A tape according to claim 1, wherein thepattern comprises parallel and orthogonal lines.
 16. A tape according toclaim 15, wherein the parallel and orthogonal lines cover substantiallythe entire length and width of the tape.
 17. A tape according to claim1, wherein said pattern comprises adjacent cells of length and widthequal to the width of the tape, each cell including at least onemachine-readable code.
 18. A tape according to claim 1, wherein the tapeis rolled.
 19. An image processing system comprising: an image scannerconfigured to provide at least one scanned image of at least a portionof an arbitrary length segment of the tape of claim 1; and an imageprocessor configured to receive the at least one scanned image, identifythe distinct set of machine-readable codes on the arbitrary lengthsegment of the tape based on the at least one scanned image, associatethe distinct set of machine-readable codes with a common set of digitaladdresses, subsequently receive an input identifying any one or more ofthe distinct set of machine-readable codes associated with the arbitrarylength segment of the tape, and, in response to receiving the input,providing user access to at least one member of the common set ofdigital addresses via a user interface of a user device.
 20. A systemaccording to claim 19, wherein the image processor is further configuredto receive and store information for a given one of the common set ofdigital address prior to receiving the input, such that access to thestored information is provided in response to the input.
 21. A systemaccording to claim 19, wherein the input comprises a photographic orvideographic scan of at least a portion of the arbitrary section oftape.
 22. A system according to claim 19, wherein the at least onescanned image comprises images scanned at a first location and at asecond location of the arbitrary section of the tape, wherein the imageprocessor is further configured to identify a first machine-readablecode at the first location, identify a second machine-readable code atthe second location, and infer at least one additional machine-readablecode between the first and second machine-readable codes.
 23. A methodcomprising: receiving at least one scanned image of at least a portionof an arbitrary length segment of the tape of claim 1; identifying thedistinct set of machine-readable codes on the arbitrary length segmentof the tape based on the at least one scanned image; associating thedistinct set of machine-readable codes with a common set of digitaladdresses; subsequently receiving an input identifying any one or moreof the distinct set of machine-readable codes associated with thearbitrary length segment of the tape; and in response to receiving theinput, providing user access to at least one member of the common set ofdigital addresses via a user interface of a user device.
 24. A methodaccording to claim 23, further comprising: prior to receiving the input,receiving and storing information for a given one of the common set ofdigital addresses, such that access to the stored information isprovided in response to the input.
 25. A method according to claim 23,wherein the input comprises a photographic or videographic scan of atleast a portion of the arbitrary section of tape.
 26. A method accordingto claim 23, wherein: scanning at least a portion of the arbitrarysection of the tape comprises scanning the arbitrary section of tape ata first location and at a second location; and identifying the distinctset of machine-readable codes on the arbitrary section of the tapecomprises identifying a first machine-readable code at the firstlocation, identifying a second machine-readable code at the secondlocation, and inferring at least one additional machine-readable codebetween the first and second machine-readable codes.
 27. An encoded tapecomprising: at least one fastener material on at least one surface ofthe tape; and repeated, identical, machine-readable codes along alongitudinal portion of at least one surface of the tape, wherein thetape is separable into a plurality of arbitrary length segments, eacharbitrary length segment including at least one of the repeated,identical, machine-readable codes, such that each arbitrary lengthsegment of tape is attachable to a different object of a plurality ofobjects using the at least one fastener material on the at least onesurface of the arbitrary length segment of tape to associate suchobjects with a common set of digital addresses associated with themachine-readable codes.
 28. A tape according to claim 27, wherein the atleast one fastener material comprises an adhesive.
 29. A tape accordingto claim 27, wherein the at least one fastener material comprises hookfasteners and loop fasteners.
 30. A tape according to claim 27, whereinthe tape is rolled.